BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC & SOUND RECORDING

"Having the education and hands-on experience in the studio, helped me take the right steps to where I want to be in my career," said Christopher Marchesseault ‘16, National Account Manager at The Music People.

Students in UNH Studio B with Prof. Goldberg

Build Your Future in Audio Engineering and Music Technology

Learn the technology behind great recordings—and how those skills translate across the world of professional audio. The University of New Haven’s B.A. in Music & Sound Recording combines hands-on experience with the technical knowledge and critical listening skills to capture, shape, and produce sound.

Music recording is one path. Film and television, live events, broadcasting, podcasts, games, and audiovisual production also depend on skilled audio professionals. Our program builds a foundation in recording, editing, mixing, and music technology that you can apply across these fields as your interests develop and the industry evolves.

Understanding music makes you a more capable audio professional. You’ll study musicianship, music theory, and history to strengthen your ear, understand musical decisions, and communicate effectively with the artists you record.

Learn from Audio Professionals

Study with engineers, producers, and composers who bring professional experience into the classroom. Through practical projects and direct faculty guidance, you’ll learn to evaluate sound, troubleshoot technical problems, and choose techniques that serve the project.

Your professors also serve as academic and career advisers, helping you connect your strengths and interests with opportunities in audio. Develop the technical judgment and collaborative habits needed to work with different clients, creative teams, and production environments.

Build Your Skill through Studio Experience

Your introduction to recording begins with Recording Fundamentals, which can give you access to one of our studios during your first year. Beginning in your sophomore year, studio courses capped at 13 students provide focused opportunities to operate equipment, make recording decisions, and receive feedback on your work.

Our recording studios and music technology lab connect classic recording techniques with contemporary audio production. Work with vintage and modern hardware, including a large-format Trident 88 console and a two-inch, 24-track analog tape machine, alongside digital audio workstations and a Dolby Atmos 7.1.4 mixing suite for immersive audio.

An extensive microphone collection gives you opportunities to explore how different microphones capture a voice, instrument, or ensemble. Learn how microphone choice, analog processing, and digital tools shape a recording—and how to choose the right approach for each project. Substantial studio time lets you experiment, compare results, and develop your technical skills and creative judgment.

Explore our recording studios and music technology facilities.

Your experience extends beyond class assignments. Use studio access to record bands and singers, collaborate with other students, and develop independent projects. Working with other people’s creative ideas helps you learn to prepare for sessions, communicate clearly, and deliver work that meets a project’s goals.

Our campus chapter of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) offers opportunities to connect with the professional audio community. Students can also gain practical live sound experience supporting University events, applying their skills to the demands of a live production.

Take Your Learning to Nashville

Through our Nashville Study Away program, you can spend a semester in one of the country’s major centers for music recording and production. The University’s partnership with Blackbird Studio connects classroom learning with a professional studio environment.

Courses in recording, mixing, and music production, alongside internship opportunities, allow you to build on your campus experience while learning from working professionals. A semester in Nashville is also an opportunity to explore career directions, develop professional relationships, and experience the day-to-day work of the music industry.

Connect with Opportunities in Connecticut and Beyond

Our location in coastal Connecticut puts you within reach of recording studios, performance venues, broadcasters, and media companies throughout the region, with access to opportunities in New York City and Boston.

Music & Sound Recording students have worked at organizations including Blackbird Studio, Sennheiser, Sonalysts Media, Quad Studios, Firehouse 12, ESPN, and Gillette Stadium. These experiences reflect the range of settings where recording knowledge, technical problem-solving, and a well-trained ear can take you.

Career Opportunities with a Bachelor's Degree in Music & Sound Recording

$66K

Sound Engineers and Editors

Flat Growth 2024-2034

$55K

Audio and Video Technicians

3.3% Growth 2024-2034

$83K

Producers

4.9% Growth 2024-2034

The info provided is designed to show just a few of the many possible careers you could pursue with a bachelor's degree in music & sound recording. The data includes median national salaries and industry growth projections*. *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates (September 2025). Salary data fluctuates frequently.

 

Selected Courses and Programs

A study of the use of synthesizers, drum machines, sound modules and computers in the recording studio. Using a combination of lecture/demonstrations as well as lab hours, students will explore the physics of sound, sound synthesis, instrument control, Musical Instruments Digital Interface (MIDI) and computers. Special emphasis will be placed on current sequencing, notation and printing software.
An introduction to live sound production and its concepts with practical application including sound system design, connectivity, options, digital and analog front of house consoles, monitor consoles, digital snakes, crossover networks, speaker systems, line arrays, setup, teardown, and troubleshooting.
Students learn and practice advanced studio techniques, including expanding microphone techniques, the use of control surfaces, cutting-edge studio production techniques, stereo and surround mixing, and mastering techniques. Emphasis is on practices and workflow in a professional recording studio.
Hip-hop recordings are commodified chronicles of listening and audio manipulation activities that exhibit a relationship between technology, aesthetics, and practice. This course is a hands-on examination and scholarly exploration of the technologies and practices of hip-hop music-making. Students engage with hip-hop’s music as a response to contemporaneous technologies available to DJs and beat makers. Through listening, musical analysis, and re-creation exercises, students investigate the instrumental component of hip-hop music heard on recordings, commonly referred to as beats. In this course, students make beats with the technologies and technical limitations that have defined the different periods of hip-hop music and reflect on their practice.

The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. To view the complete list of courses you'll take while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Music and Sound Recording, check out the Academic Catalog:

Music and Sound Recording, B.A.

Dual Degree: B.A. in Music and Sound Recording and Master of Business Administration (MBA) (Direct Entry)

Music Technology Minor

Learn from professors who are dedicated to your success.

Our faculty are leaders and innovators in their fields, bringing both deep professional experience and academic rigor to the classroom.

 

Unique Opportunities

Band performing in Nashville

Nashville Study Away

The University of New Haven is proud to partner with Blackbird Studio to offer a study-away program designed for students in our music majors. Nashville is the creative center of the American music business and a source for artists, songwriters, producers and engineers across the musical spectrum.

Learn More
Rein Records logo

Rein Records is the University of New Haven's student-run record label

We are a devoted group of individuals full of passion and creativity. For our student-run team, we use experiential growth, applying our skills and experience in new and innovative ways, and challenging ourselves to work smarter and stronger with every new endeavor we take on.

Learn More

 

 

Next Steps

Whether you're still in high school or are transferring from another college, we offer full- and part-time opportunities for undergraduates from inside the U.S. and abroad. The admission process can begin as early as the end of your high school junior year.

The Application Process Website

We offer a comprehensive financial aid program, with students receiving assistance in the form of grants, scholarships, student loans, and part-time employment. Funds are available from federal and state governments, private sponsors, and from university resources. More than 95 percent of the University's full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.

Financial Aid Website

WANT MORE INFO?

Find out more about why the University of New Haven is a great fit for you. Our admissions team will contact you with information personalized to your interests.

VISIT

A campus visit is one of the most important parts of the college selection process. Come feel what it's like to Be a Charger!

APPLY

With more than 74,000 alumni and more than 100 years of history, #ChargerNation is the place to be. Begin Your Journey today.